Beyond fireworks and food, what July 4 means

Okay, like most people, I give a huge thumbs up for the way long weekends smell like charcoal and steak. And it’s hard to beat a cold one, pool side with friends. But after 31 years in this country, whenever the 4th of July arrives, it still causes me to wrinkle my nose the way I did when I was ten. I just don’t get it, really get it–that is.

For years, I used to blame my whatever sort of attitude towards July 4th on the old “I’m not really American” thing. I mean, I was born here, but that was an accident. My mother just happened to be here when I popped out. No one else in my family was born here. I didn’t grow up here. My parents are not from here. And it is just as much an accident that I ended up back here later on. But now I realize that this story isn’t that unique. In fact, it fits neatly into the story of America. I’m a typical American.

Still, unlike Veterans’ Day and other national holidays, I find it difficult to put a finger on what (and who exactly) is celebrating. The adoption of the Declaration of Independence? The US winning independence from England?

I imagine the holiday means different things to different people, ranging from gratefulness for a day off work to joy at becoming a citizen to feeling thankful for being American.

So now that everyone’s finished barbecuing, picnicking and drinking and the parades and family reunions are done, tell me what exactly you were celebrating and what you mean when you toss back a cold one and shout out “Happy July 4th!”

The idea of America. To be more specific, the concept of America as outlined in the Declaration of Independence. We as a nation have never fully lived up to these ideals, but history shows that we have made a lot of progress.

John Adams – “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”
Off by two days but what is so hard to understand ???

I believe that the problem you have with understanding the 4th of July is the same problem mostyounger people have. Back when we were a colony under England we were charged large amounts of taxes, which would go overseas to England, and we would have no representation in their government. So along came the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Now we have large amoutns of taxes piled upon us and very little representation in the government. Special Interests and Lobbyist have more of a say to your local politician then the average person. Also most people really aren’t celebrating our freedom from oppression, (which only applied to white men and not minorities or women), anymore they’re celebrating a day off of work and the ability to get drunk.

Far more than a bang-up birthday party, the Fourth of July commemorates a truly inspired philosophy–one which forever altered government’s relationship to the governed. It marks a genuine breakthrough in human affairs, a revolutionary vision of Man’s worth. Our government would absolutely not be allowed–must, at all costs, be deprived of–any form of godhood.
Individuals would be left in peace to pursue their own moral ends. Theirs, was the divine right.
We who celebrate this holiday do not hesitate to feel great joy; know deserved pride. Ours is a constantly evolving blessing, a blood-bought freedom dearly paid for by millions of mostly unknown benefactors.
We are Americans!–kings have not been honored with a more majestic title.